2017 - EN goes to Europe
Interested in Seeing if there are a group of ENers that would be interested in planning out a European IM vacation? Goal would be to get there a few days to a week early, rent a house together or lodge in the same hotel, etc.
Events that fit for the summer include:
July 3 - Frankfurt (IM European Champs)
July 17 - Bolton, England
July 24 - Zurich
July 31 - Limburg Netherlands
August 20 - Kalmar Sweden
August 21 - Copenhagen
August 28 - Vichy, France
for me, the best dates are August 28 & 21, though from the outsize looking in, Zurich seems of the most interest, perhaps someone with knowledge would weigh in? Interested in seeing the interest level from others here.
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Frankfurt was #2 IM for me and let me tell you - Germans know how to throw a party and run a race - one of my very favorites and definitely most memorable - from a police-escorted pre-race course ride to cobblestones to the pre-race swim at the nude beach! Beautiful course, spectator-friendly run, easy (for Europe) logistically. Did Zurich too - first time I ever saw fish in the swim! Incredibly scenic (and TOUGH, hilly ride), crazy & confusing run course (I never knew where I was in each lap). Zurich is fun and charming and expensive (we ate a lot of meals at Starbucks!)
I'd lean towards end of summer races, so will follow this thread with a lot of interest! A word of warning - an IM in Europe adds another level of stress to the whole experience - different language (somex), food, transportation, etc... It's all a fantastic adventure, but you need to be prepared for that.
@Scott,
There was a similar discussion at IMFL last year, so I bet there is/will be some interest. Paul H loves to race overseas, and I'm sure Stefan would love to see an EN European invasion. Right now, I plan to do two IMs in 2017, as they will be ## 10 and 11. In 2018 I age up and may take a long-shot swipe at a KQ. If not, I'll be Legacy-eligible. I'm leaning towards doing an early one and a late summer one in 2017, leaving me time to rest and do a full OS before '18. Zurich, Denmark and Sweden would all fit that bill, with Zurich leading the pack given its history and proximity to major airport. School starts the end of August, so Vichy is out for us. Frankfurt is a great hub, but it's a modern, rather sterile city. Like Julie said, the race is fantastic, but it's in the been-there, done-that category for me. I would also have some interest in doing Austria in June, then a fall EN key race back home.
I guess my only "concern" would be if this gained momentum and results in 30 of us racing in Europe instead of (rather than in addition to) one of the key NA races. Although we're a truly int'l team, RnP run their camps in NA, do their 4K talks in NA, and get their best ROR at the NA IM races when 20-40 members show up to race, then clog the awards stage the following day. One of the coolest things at FL last year was when the announcer said: "here comes the first of what will be many finishers from the two-time world champion Endurance Nation team." That sheet won't happen in Klagenfurt. I still think it's a great idea, but we should be mindful of the potential to dilute some of the EN mojo from races where RnP get the most bang for the buck. Now safely off my soapbox . . . it's lunch time.
MR
@ all - Late summer is best for me, when the GF has a week without her kids right before labor day.So, that would mean Vichy France, anyone have any intel on this race?
@ Ralph Moore "next summer" is 2017...
With that said - would love a an EN/Europe IM if it works out. But for me I don't think I could race after IM Nice. It's just too hot here for a summer IM.
My key race for 2017 is the ITU Long Distance World Championship race in Penticton, BC, Canada, which will be the last weekend of August (27th). And I'm trying to stick to ONE IM per year, which next year will be in the US in the Fall Kona vs ???. So no go to France next year for me.
Of course there is first the small hurdle of QUALIFYING for those races, at Chattanooga or Louisville this year, and at the 2016 US Championships, which are in Miami Nov 13th.
For 2017, I have a big road trip in Northern England on the books and hope to be in Penticton, Canada for ITU World Long Course.
For 2018 - possibilities include Swissman if accepted else IM Lanzarote and/or Odense, Denmark for ITU World Long Course.
For 2019 - possibilities include another try at the Swissman lottery or Pontevedra, Spain for ITU World Long Course.
I've done Ironman Sweden and have raced 10,000 on the track in Copenhagen (long ago) and either venue are fantastic choices for an IM vacation. If I can hang around long enough I will give strong consideration to IM70.3 Haugesund, Norway and Challenge Roth.
Food is cheap, housing is cheap, you can rent scooters and go from beaches.
Roth is in my bucket list
I want retired on the Island ! hah
sounds neat scott. but can't really commit to anything.
once done my Kona itch, Roth is a priority for me.
No can do 2017 , however we are tossing around the Europe idea for 2018. Possibly Challenge Roth, but copenhagen would also be very interesting. That is, of course, assuming I don't quit triathlon after IMMT in 3 weeks.